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hip revision after mastectomy update
Hello
Just thought I'd let you know that I've now had the hip revision surgery and am making steady progress. It was a complex procedure involving bone grafts and hurt like heck. In fact the whole revision ordeal has been much more painful than either my primary hip resurfacing op in 2006 or my mx and immediate LD flap recon back in May. I found the BC treatment to be uncomfortable rather than painful
The nursing care I received on the orthopeadic ward was good and I needn't have worried about my dignity being compromise. Most of the nursing staff were aware of my recent BC surgery and were kind and compassionate.
I have to stay on both crutches until Mid Jan which is frustrating but I daren't do too much yet as there's a risk of hip dislocation or leg misalignment. I'm so looking forward to the New Year and particularly to the end of Feb when hopefully I can have the 'finishing off' cosmetic surgery to my new breast. That's really quite exciting! It's quite amazing just how tough we can be in the face of adversity and I think we should all be very proud of ourselves. Wishing you all the best for the festive season. Lou xx
Great to hear from you again Lou and that it has gone well.
Prayers for a full recovery, and a very happy and restful Christmas.
Hi Lou,
Glad to hear that you are through the surgery and hobbling around on your crutches. I hope you are not in too much pain. I remember sitting was very painful for the first couple of weeks. I agree with your observation that the breast surgery was much less painful than the hip surgery.
Has your surgeon spoken about the implant they removed? I hope it did not do too much damage to the surrounding tissue.
Why did you have bone grafts? My surgeon sold the resurfacing route to me on the basis that it was bone conserving and would make it easier to do a revision later on, which would almost certainly be needed given my relatively young age for this type of surgery.
I assume you are not going to be able to drive for at least 6 weeks. I found that a real nuisance.
Hope you are getting plenty of help and have a smooth road to recovery.
Happy Christmas,
Cherry x
Hi Cherry
I needed the bone grafts because of the damage caused to my hip socket by the defective implant. I don't think revisions are usually this complex (unless the patient has suffered a fracture or dislocation) so you should be fine.
I can't drive for eight weeks and can't have any physio until I'm off both crutches - also eight weeks. It's such a different scenario this time around.
I am shocked at just how disabled I am. There is so little I can do for myself and it's incredibly frustrating but it would be madness to overdo it and risk dislocation. Never mind. It will be a month since the op on Wednesday and my OH's kind sister is whisking us off to her house in deepest Derbyshire for a few days at Christmas.
Thanks for your good wishes, Cherry. Have a lovely Christmas
Lou
x
Sorry Hymil,
Have just seen you reply too.
Many thanks for your kind words. Have a lovely Christmas
Lou
x